Columns

The issue of road funding – or, to put it slightly differently, the question of how South Carolina should fix its broken road system – is now a constant topic in politics and the media. A fair number of state lawmakers have therefore begun to advocate what politicians always advocate when they don’t want to make tough decisions about the budget – raising taxes, specifically the fuel tax.

The world is shrinking and with the Internet we are now all hyper-connected. One result of this is that where once we looked at problems as local or maybe state and national issues, now we can see issues simultaneously on a local to global level – all at the same time and in real time.

You’ve probably heard much discussion lately about the condition of South Carolina’s roads and bridges, and how to fund their repairs and maintenance.

Policy-makers agree that the issue will be front and center when the Legislature convenes in January. The unanswered question is where to find the billions of dollars needed to fix them – and whether there will be an increase in the gas tax, raising pump prices.

In September, I was invited to watch Jaden Mix, a ninth-grader at North Central High School, run in a 3 ½ mile cross country track race at Lancaster High School stadium.

Once I heard the name Jaden, I dropped everything to cheer him on. Although quiet and reserved, one Sunday, I saw Jaden go to the front of the church with a full congregation and pray a prayer with no reservation.

The issues related to the Lancaster County Probate Court are ones which hit close to home in Lancaster County.

While the incumbent has had years to lead the court, there are growing questions about how the court is really doing in serving the citizens of Lancaster County.

The most important function of the court is to settle estates, helping families who have lost loved ones. But the records show these families are being let down by a staggering backlog of cases in the probate court.

Is this a new dance sensation or perhaps a term used in fishing as you watch a landed fish do its thing? Actually, based on your point of view, what I am going to say could be interpreted either way.

In our current political season, we see an interesting, bi-annual shifting of positions taking place. Many hard-liner politicos start taking their respective stances, from which they will do battle for the retention of their exalted seats in Congress, but this year, as the mid-term elections approach, there is a different element that has poked its ugly head into the mix.

Nov. 4 is the day we can do something about our country, and our local government – Election Day. Now normally a midterm election is ignored by many voters. But because of the direction our country is going, this election is extremely important.

If you don’t take the time to exercise your right then you need not complain. You had your chance to speak out and you chose not to.